April 23, 2026
Listen
“What you can do is read your body during the race. In Boston this year, once it started unfolding, I just knew everything was clicking.”
My guest for today’s episode is Zouhair Talbi. This is his second time on the show this year. We had him on in January after his victory at the Houston Marathon in 2:05.
On Monday at the Boston Marathon, he finished fifth overall in 2:03:45, became the top American in the race, and broke Ryan Hall’s American course record that had stood since 2011. He did it in regular prescription glasses, after back-to-back marathon blocks with barely ten days off between each, and after a training build that included a half marathon PR at the NYC Half while still in the middle of a full training load.
Zouhair was born in Morocco and grew up there before coming to the United States, where he now trains in Colorado Springs with coach Scott Simmons. CITIUS MAG first covered him at the Trials of Miles Texas Qualifier in February 2021, and this performance at Boston was a long time in the making.
In this conversation, he takes us inside the lead pack on race day, explains what it felt like to run next to John Korir and read the field in real time, and shares his honest thinking about what it will take to go from 2:03 to being a genuine contender at the 2028 U.S. Olympic Trials and beyond. He also speaks directly and thoughtfully about what it means to represent the United States, and what he wants his son — born here, growing up here — to see when he watches his father compete.
____________
Host: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez
Guest: Zouhair Talbi | @zouhairathle
Produced by: Jasmine Fehr | @jasminefehr
Support The Sponsor
XENDURANCE
When you finish a hard workout, the work isn't actually done. That's when recovery starts. Xendurance Protein is designed specifically to help your body recover, rebuild, and get stronger after training. It combines four different types of protein, so your body gets both fast absorbing protein for immediate recovery and slower release protein to support muscle repair over time. Check it out at Xendurance.com and use code CITIUS for 25% off your first order.
WAHOO
With the Wahoo KICKR RUN, you can simulate the exact Boston or London Marathon course right in your own home. You can also use the run free mode, which uses sensors to automatically match the belt speed to your stride. No buttons, no interruptions, no breaking your flow. When you use code CITIUS at checkout, you'll also get a free KICKR Headwind Smart Fan. Check it out today at wahoofitness.com.
OLIPOP
Olipop’s Tropical Punch tastes like a vacation in a can. It has the perfect balance of pineapple, passionfruit, mandarin, and apple. You get that nostalgic fruit punch flavor, but way more crisp and way more refreshing. Every can contains their Olismart blend, which includes ingredients designed to support digestive health and help feed your gut microbiome. If you haven't had tried Olipop yet, grab a can and see what the hype is all about! Head to DrinkOlipop.com and use code CITIUS25 at checkout to get 25% off your orders.
Chris Chavez
Chris Chavez launched CITIUS MAG in 2016 as a passion project while working full-time for Sports Illustrated. He covered the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and grew his humble blog into a multi-pronged media company. He completed all six World Marathon Majors and on Feb. 15th, 2025 finally broke five minutes for the mile.
